Safety culture assessment in petroleum industry: cross sectional survey of workers safety performance in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Abstract

Poor safety culture influences workers safety behaviour, which in many situations leads to accidents and injuries, and the performance of workers can be improved only by strengthening the safety culture in workplaces. The present study evaluates the safety behaviour and its impact on the safety performance of oil and gas workers in Nigeria. Opinion of 462 oil and gas frontline workers from fifteen different oil and gas companies in Nigeria (Niger Delta) on safety culture was collected using an online survey questionnaire. Findings from the study show that there is a significant relationship between safety management and safety participation including safety compliance. Work experience did make significant direct estimated impact of safety participation and a non-significant direct estimated impact on safety climate. Age was found to have a significant estimated impact on safety compliance, but did not indicate direct significant role in safety participation. The study clearly indicates that safety culture influences workers’ safety behaviour in the Nigeria oil and gas sector and timely strengthening of workplace safety culture and visible management approach to safety is important for occupational safety improvement within the oil and gas industry. In addition, there is the need for policy realignment to aid in the promotion of safety culture and adherence to safety standards within the industry as practiced in other countries.